Can dogs eat yogurt
Brief introduction
The first picture that comes to our mind when we think about dogs is the loyalty and friendliness towards humans. An absolute bliss having dogs at our home. They are only living creature on earth that doesn’t betray us no matter what the situation is.
So, it is our foremost responsibility to take care of them. The prime facet to consider is the diet we provide to them. Diet can range from human foods to any non-veg foods in the raw state. Even dairy products are widely recommended for dogs to a few extents.
There lie many questions as if is yogurt which is the one type of dairy product beneficial for dogs or not. Dogs and yogurt benefits are inter-related.
About this, yes yogurt is beneficial for our furry friend. Even if in true sense, we need to say then yes, yogurt can be considering as the dog food. It contains vital nutrients like calcium and protein. Calcium in yogurt is in abundance which is helpful in proper bone growth in them. Additional to that, it is also tasty.
What type of yogurt to feed your dog?
But again it is important to know what type of yogurt to feed our furry friend. Generally, plain, unflavored, non or low-fat yogurt including both greek and regular types free of any added sweeteners are fine for our dogs. Additional to that, you should look for yogurt that has lots of live cultures. Greek yogurt is better as it has lower levels of lactose than regular yogurt. It is also highly important to choose the yogurt brand carefully. As some types contain ingredients that may be harmful to our furry friend.
Recommended quantity for a dog?
Next, an important question in every owner’s mind as to how much yogurt to give to our dog. Highly recommended to provide your furry friend with half a teaspoon per day for a puppy, as excess can lead to too many extra calories which are not at all vital for our furry friend.
Again it depends on the weight of your dog. A twenty-pound dog would love a single small teaspoon while a fifty-pound dog loves the big teaspoon. A Newfoundland or other giant breed dogs can have plenty of teaspoons.
Can yogurt kill a dog?
Can yogurt kill a dog until your dog is lactose intolerant. Yogurt contains probiotics. Probiotics are the live culture of bacteria. Probiotics kill off some of the good bacteria in a dog’s belly. One of these is Xylitol which is extremely toxic to dogs.
Xylitol is a common alternative. It is good for humans but it is harmful to dogs. Even a small amount of xylitol can cause dangerous liver failure.
Can your dog be lactose intolerant?
The lactose found in dairy could cause trouble for your dog. Like humans, some dogs don’t make enough of the digestive enzymes needed to digest milk. And while raw milk is full of enzymes, the pasteurization process destroys them. As if your dog is lactose intolerant, he may experience digestive upset when he eats yogurt.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance?
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
Why your dogs should avoid eating yogurt?
The yogurt is pasteurized. Pasteurization is the process of heating food to high temperatures. This heat kills off harmful pathogens. In simple words. it is safe for human beings as an edible. In the actual case, pasteurized dairy products may cause more stress to the immune system.
Pasteurization
The biggest problem with yogurt is that most of it pasteurized. Pasteurization is the process of heating food to a high temperature. This heat kills off harmful pathogens and bacteria. It makes the food safe for human consumption.
Added sugars and artificial sweeteners
Like humans, a small number of sugars are safe for your dog when it comes from good sources like honey, berries, carrots, and other fruits and vegetables. But too much can be a problem.
Yogurt often has added sugar which is another reason to keep yogurt away from your dog.
Why should your furry friend require Probiotics?
Within the dog’s gut, there is a vast colony of bacteria. Some are beneficial while some are not. When the balance of good and bad bacteria is thrown off, so is his immune system. That’s where probiotics come into play.
They ensure the proper growth of good bacteria and a proper immune system. Some of the other benefits of probiotics are.
- Protect the body against bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
- It produces B vitamins.
- Prevent any kind of dental diseases.
- It acts as a barrier against toxins, heavy metals, and allergens.
- It produces digestive enzymes.
- Help the body absorb calcium, magnesium, iron, and other nutrients.
Apart from this, yogurt has a lot of additional benefits as well where some are given below.
- It is high in proteins that can help your pup feel full.
- It acts as good antibiotics. Since antibiotics kill bacteria, yogurt can help your pup to get good bacteria in their gut.
- If your pup is not having the medication or if your dog is hiding from a pill, mix it with the yogurt, your pup may eat the pill in the yogurt. As a result, you don’t have to keep chasing them begging to take your medicine.
Conclusion
Summarizing the entire article, in short, it is worth saying that yogurt is one of the most favorite food for humans. It is good for dogs as well but in limited quantities. Generally, one teaspoon is enough for your pup. Though for larger breeds, more teaspoons can be recommendable for your furry friend.
Not to forget that yogurt is pasteurized. Also, yogurt ensures the proper growth of good bacteria and a proper immune system. Our furry friend is everyone’s favorite and taking care of him is our major responsibility. Paws and whiskers has emerged as th perfect companion for your canine friend.
Thank you readers for your priceless time in reading through the entire content. Hoped that you found it interesting and worthy. Don’t forget to share it with all your friends and relatives who all are dog lovers. Paws and whiskers have emerged as the perfect platform where you can read blogs and buy products related to dogs and cats as well. Have a good day.